Diplomacy and International Law (Distance Learning) MA

What Will You Study

The LLM/MA Diplomacy and International Law (distance learning) is a flexible and engaging degree that provides a strong introduction to diplomacy, foreign policy and international law. Jointly delivered by our prestigious Law School and the highly ranked and regarded Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion (PPR), it enables you to deepen your understanding of the social, legal, economic and political issues playing out on the world’s stage. Designed to fit with professionals working full or part-time, it can be studied over one (full-time) or two (part-time) years.

Our Law School is home to the Centre for Crime, Law and Justice, the Centre for Law and Society, and the Centre for Child and Family Justice. These influential centres underpin our postgraduate teaching and you will have access to the much sought-after expertise of academics working at the forefront of research into politics, international relations, legal and socio-legal issues.

The pathway for the LLM/MA ensures a duality in the nature of your studies. Core and elective modules from the Law School and PPR, and a 20,000 word dissertation, enable you to pursue your own interests whilst becoming practiced at looking at issues from different perspectives.

Your core modules are: Theory and Concepts in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy; International Law; Issues and Practice in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy; Theory and Methods in Postgraduate Studies; and a Dissertation. You will choose between International Human Rights and The Law of International Organisations as a further elective module.

The dissertation is an independent, in-depth inquiry into a research topic of your choosing. The topic will link to a key legal or political question or issue and may also directly relate to your professional/career interests. This is your opportunity to make a contribution to the academic community with new, original research and writing. A dissertation supervisor will provide you with support and introduce you to relevant material and research; their personal research interests will closely align with your chosen topic wherever possible.

The supervising department for your dissertation, and the choice of modules studied, dictate which award you will receive: LLM or MA.

Our distance learning approach combines recorded and some live and interactive lectures, elements to be worked through autonomously, online collaboration and discussion, and group work. We actively encourage you to build a beneficial ‘virtual’ network of academics and peers as you study. Distance learning begins in early October, with an online orientation session conducted through a virtual learning environment (VLE) and web conferencing system. This introduces you to course tutors, sets out the requirements of the programme, and familiarises you with the online learning tools and resources (VLE, discussion forums, e-library etc).

Your postgraduate LLM/MA degree opens doors to a huge range of careers and provides high-level training for those pursuing careers in areas such as foreign and international affairs, national and international non-governmental organisations, journalism and international business.

You will develop: the skills required to critically evaluate cutting-edge research; inter-disciplinary skills; and, analytical and communications skills. All of which are a real boost in any sector and highly prized by employers.

The LLM/MA is also an ideal stepping stone to PhD study and academia.

The programme is very popular and we recommend that you submit your application and all supporting documentation as early as possible.

Key Information

Duration: 12 months full-time, 24 months part-time.

Entry requirements: An upper second class honours degree, or its equivalent. Relevant professional qualifications and experience will also be considered.

IELTS: 6.5 or equivalent.

Assessment: Coursework (participation in weekly learning activities and a 5,000 word essay) and a dissertation

Fees

Full Time (per year)

Part Time (per year)

UK/EU

£7,540

£3,770

Overseas

£16,120

£8,060

The University will not increase the Tuition Fee you are charged during the course of an academic year.

If you are studying on a programme of more than one year's duration, the tuition fees for subsequent years
of your programme are likely to increase each year. The way in which continuing students' fee rates are
determined varies according to an individual's 'fee status' as set out on our fees webpages.

What are tuition fees for?

Studying at a UK University means that you need to pay an annual fee for your tuition,
which covers the costs associated with teaching, examinations, assessment and graduation.

The fee that you will be charged depends on whether you are considered to be a UK,
EU or overseas student.
Visiting students will be charged a pro-rata fee for periods of study less than a year.

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12 month session,
which usually runs from October to September the following year.

How does Lancaster set overseas tuition fees?

Overseas fees, alongside all other sources of income, allow the University to maintain its abilities
across the range of activities and services. Each year the University's Finance Committee consider
recommendations for increases to fees proposed for all categories of student and this takes into
account a range of factors including projected cost inflation for the University, comparisons against
other high-quality institutions and external financial factors such as projected exchange rate
movements.

What support is available towards tuition fees?

Lancaster University's priority is to support every student in making the most of their education.
Many of our students each year will be entitled to bursaries or scholarships to help with the cost of
fees and/or living expenses. You can find out more about financial support, studentships, and awards
for postgraduate study on our website.